Missouri senator revives idea to shorten General Assembly session

Sunday

Jan 29, 2012 at 12:01 AMJan 29, 2012 at 1:00 AM

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri lawmakers scrounging for ways to save money in a tight budget might have to use a personal solution — work less.

The General Assembly could save more than $400,000 annually by shaving several weeks off its session, according to a financial estimate for a proposed constitutional amendment that could be debated in the Senate as soon as this week.

The proposal would shorten the length of Missouri’s annual legislative session by ending it in late March instead of mid-May, beginning in 2015. The plan was endorsed last week by a Senate committee. If approved by the full Senate and House, it would appear before voters on the November ballot.

The financial estimate, prepared by legislative staff, based the projected savings on reduced per-diem and mileage expenses for lawmakers and a lower cost for the extra employees needed to staff the House and Senate when the chambers are in session. Neither the legislation nor the fiscal estimate, however, mentions anything about changing legislative salaries, which are about $36,000 annually per lawmaker.

Although he acknowledges a potential savings, sponsoring Sen. John Lamping, R-St. Louis County, said a shorter session also would encourage lawmakers to be more efficient when they are meeting.

He said they could draft more of their bills in the off-season. That could ease the burden on legislative staff, who often work late in the session’s final week as lawmakers scramble to craft last-minute compromises.

Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer said Lamping’s proposal could come up for debate during the current session, but he also said shortening the session could mean that fewer laws get passed.

“In the past we’ve had shorter sessions,” said Mayer, R-Dexter. “A lot of things have changed in that time, not only in the government but also in society.”

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